Ribbon winding and reversing mechanism



F. W. BERNAU RIBBON WINDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM Oct. 27, 1925* Filed Jan. 19. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Oct. 27, 1925' I F. w. BERNAU RIBBON WINDING REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19- 1924 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J-l72-L Oct. 27, 1925' F. W. BERNAU RIBBON WINDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 19. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented on. 27 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. BERNAU,

F HILLSIDE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB 'IO ELLIS ADDING- TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

v RIBBON WINDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 19, 1924. Serial No. 687,394.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BERNAU, a citizen of the United States, residinw at Hillside, in the county of Union and btate 6 of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon Windin and Reversing Mechanism, of which the to lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to ribbon winding 10 and reversing mechanism for typewriters, adding, and calculating machines, and is an improvement on the ribbon winding and reversing mechanism set forth in the atent to Walter J. Burchett, No. 1,089,042, arch 16 3, 1914.

\Vhile the present invention, utilizes some of the features of the aforesaid Burchett mechanism, combinations of other elements 20 features, my invention is materiall different in construction and operation rom sa'irl Burchett mechanism and reference is made to the Burchett patent only to enable those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to ascertain the improvements over the state of the prior patented art which I have devised.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a novel winding and reversing mechanism for the ribbon of typewriters, adding, and calculating machms, which will be positive in its operations of feeding the ribbon and of reversing it at the proper time, without utting undue strain or pressure on the wlnding and reversing mechanism, or on the ribbon itself, andlwithout requiring more than very slight power for the feeding and reversing of the ribbon. 1 v a .A further object is to provide. a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism which with said will be simple, adapted to be quickly assembled or taken apart, positive, reliable, and quiet in action, one which will dispense with special clutching devices and which will permit quick and easy changing of rib-- bons or reels. 7

The present ribbon. winding and reversing mechanism 'employes a rockably mounted bell crank lever which carries a feed pawl to cooperate with a ratchet wheel to which the ribbon spool is det-achably in other respects and in the tion is brought about by a very slight tenconnected, as in the construction disclosed in the Burchett Patent No. 1,089,042.

The present mechanism also embodies a check pawl of the general form and function employed in the Burchett device.

My invention also provides a reversing lever for each ribbon windin mechanism, the reversing levers of the wmding mechanisms being connected by a.rod so that the will move in unison.

' nlike the Burchett device, however, I have entirely dispensed with the trip lever and the shiftin dog of that device, thereby greatly simpli ying the constructlon ant y the improvements provided, make my mechanism very sensitive vfor purposes of reversal so that when an obstruction or stop on the ribbon engages the improved throwout lever I have provided'as an improvement, the slight tension due-to the feed of the ribbon first swings the feed and check pawls entirely clear of any ossible engagement with} the ratchet eel of the ribbon reel which is being unwound and as the tension continues, the feed pawl 0t that ribbon cup is forced against the cup, which then serves as an abutment, and the reversing lever is snapped to its other position, thus causing the previously inoperative feed and check pawls to be engaged with the ratchet wheel which has previously turned idly and reversal is thus efi'ected. This acsi0n, on the ribbon and very little power is required to effect reversal as compared with the special trip lever and shifting dog provided in the Burchett construction, which parts are entirely omitted in my invention.

The invention also exhibits other improvements which will appear more fully hereinafter.

I am aware that. modifications may be resorted to in carrying out the principles of the invention and I wish it to be understood that. the invention is not limited to the precise details of construction hereinafter described excepting where specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view showing the invention applied to certain parts of the Ellis adding typewriter, the ribbon spools being omitted to disclose the ribbon windin and reversing means;

ig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the mechanism for the left hand ribbon reel;

Fig. 3 isa section on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing certain parts of the operating mechanism for the ribbon winding and reversin mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to *ig. 2, various parts being omitted to show the manner in which the bell crank lever and the feed pawl turn the ratchet wheel; and

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 2 with other parts omitted for the sake of clearness, the ribbon and a part of the reel being indicated in dotted lines and the obstruction on the ribbon being shown in position to effect reversal.

A part of the top frame of the machine is shown in Fig. 4 at B-48; and in Fig. 1 I have illustrated the type segment T- of the typewriter section and the guide pl." te P- of the printing sectionof the adding machine these being used in the combined adding machine and typewriter at present manufactured under the Ellis patent. It is to be understood, however, that the type segment T-45 and the plate P 55 are shown merely for purposes of illustration as the present invention may be used on any typewriter, or adding or calculating machine which employs a ribbon for printing purposes.

Referring to Figure 1, the ribbon winding and reversing mechanism of the ribbon cups 1-250, 1-251 is the same although the mechanism in one cup is arranged in reverse relation to the mechanism in the other cup. It is not essential to provide in both ribbon cups the detent lever 63-1, hereinafter described as its provision in one cup is suflicient. Description of the mechanism of one cup will, therefore, be understood to apply to the mechanism of the other cup.

Referring to the mechanism in the left hand ribbon cup of Figure 1, which is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, the cup 1-251 is fastened to a hub 1-144 which is provided with a screw threaded end that passes through the frame 13-48 and is secured by a nut 1-39, as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4, however, represents the right hand ribbon cup 1-250, and the operating mechanism by which the ribbon winding and reversing mechanism may be actuated either from the adding machine or the typewriting section if the invention is embodied in an Ellis combined adding machine and typewriter.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, there is secured in the center of the hub 1-44 a vertical pivot post 1-110 which is provided with a removable screw 13-22 to retain certain parts which are rotarily mounted on the post.

Loosely mounted on the post I-110 and bearing against the hub 1-144 at the bottom 0 the ribbon cup, is a hub 1-130. A bell crank lever 1-158 is secured to the hub I-130, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, the hub constituting the mounting for said bell crank lever.

Referring to Fig. 5, the bell crank lever 1-158 is provided with a stud 1-315. A f:ed pawl 1-172-L is pivotally mounted on the stud 1-315. This fed pawl is provided with an upwardly projecting tooth l-A and the pawl is actuated so that it tends to move toward the center of the cup, by a spring 1-80 coiled around the stud 1-315 and engaged with bell crank lever 1-158 and with the said feed pawl, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. A retaining key orwasher 273-1 engaged with the stud 1-315, holds the pawl on said stud.

The other arm of the bell crank lever has a pin'1-114 which extends downwardly through a slot 1-25l-A-in the bottom of the ribbon cup 1-251. A connecting link 1-156 is pivoted to the pin 1-114 and is geld by a spring clip or washer 273-1,

A feed crank lever 163-1, Fig. 4, which is pivoted on stud 123-1, is connected by a pin 125-1 to the link 1-156. The rear end of the link 1-156 is bent in the manner shown to prevent disconnection from the stud 125-1.

The mechanism shown in Fig. 4 is for the operation of the lever 163-1 either from the typewriting or the adding sections of the machine. that any desired mechanism may be employed for giving the link 1-156 its movement. Stated generally, however, when the Ellis adding machine is operated the mechanism thereof causes a downward movement of the driving pin 29-P carried by the driving arm 0-260. When the type writing mechanism of the Ellis machine is operated the shaft 103-1 is actuated by reason of the engagenunt of the pin 13-E against the edge of the dog 65-1. This movement causes the feed pawl 267-1 to be turned which turns the feed shaft 103-1 and the connecting link 166-1 is vmoved through an angle of about 20 when the adding section is operated and through an angle of about 10 when the typewriting section is operated. Constquently the crank lever 163-1 is operated in such fashion that the bell crank lever 1-158 and the feed pawl 1-172-L are moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

It is this movement which effects turning of the ribbon in the event that the left hand ribbon cup mechanism is arranged for operation, as shown. (Fig. 1). Similarly, if the mcchanism is set for the right hand ribbon 1 wish it understood, however,

163-1, and suitable spring means, although there is only one operating mechanism such as shown in Fig. 4.

The feed pawl 1-172-L, when the mechanism is set so that said pawl is to be operative, has its tooth l-A arranged to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 172-1 having a number of fine teeth. This ratchet wheel is carried by a hub 1-232 and has a sleeve 1-133 by which it is looselyv mounted on the post 1-110. The screw 13-22 engages the end of the sleeve 1-133 and thus holds the ratchet wheel on the post. The hub 1-232 is provided with a driving pin 1- 126.

The ribbon reels, of which only one is shown at 1-168, Fig. 3, may be of any desired construction it provided with a suitable central opening to receive the sleeve 1-133 and' with a hole 1-70 to receive the pin 1-126 so that the reel may bedriven by the hub 1-232 and ratchet wheel 17 2-1.

Referring to 1* igs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, there is a stud 1-215 which is secured to the bottom of the ribbon cup 1-251 by a nut 31-1. A retaining or check pawl 1-171-L has a hub which is loosely mounted on the stud 1-215 as shown in Fig. 3. This pawl is provided with a downwardly projecting tooth A-l which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 172-1 when the mechanism is set for feeding as shown in Fig. 2, the purpose being to prevent backward turning of the ratchetwheel when the feed pawl 1-172-L is withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet wheel on the return movement 01" the bell crank lever 1-158. A spring washer 273-1 holds the retaining pawl on its stud 1-215. A spring 1-136 which is coiled around the hub of the retaining pawl is engaged with the pawl and the cup and has a tendency to swing the retaining pawl inwardly toward the ratchet wheel 172-1.

Screwed into the bottom of the ribbon cup is a stud 1-217. Pivoted on the stud 1-217 is a feed pawl control lever 1-160, Figs. 2, 3 and 6. The lever 1-160 of the left hand feed mechanism, Fig. 1, is connected to the lever 1-159 of the right hand feed mechanism by a rod 1-190 so that the two levers will shift simultaneously, the purpose being to position for engagement with the ratchet wheel 172-1, the feed and retaining pawls 1-172-L and 1-171-L of the left hand ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, Fig. 1, while disengaging'the corresponding pawls of the right hand ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism rom the ratchet wheel thereof.

. Pivoted at 14-1 to the control lever 1- 160 is a throwout or reversing lever 62-1 which is provided with a fork=sha-ped slot X for the passage of the ribbon R, Fig. 6, the ribbon also being guided by'the guide bracket 1-153.

The throwout lever 62-1 is provided on its inner part with a pin 1-121 which is positioned so that the feed pawl 1-172-L and the retaining pawl 1-171-L are arrested thereby. It will be understood that the tendency of the 3 rings 1-80 and 1- 136 is to swing the a oresaid pawls toward the center of the ribbon cup for the purpose of engaging the teeth of said pawls with the ratchet wheel 172-1.

By reason of the position of pin 1-121, when the throwout lever 62-1 is moved from its usual position, as shown in Fig. 6, it shifts the feed and retaining pawls as shown, which brings the end of the feed pawl 1-17 2-11 against the side of the ribbon cup, which then serves as an abutment, for a purpose appearing hereinafter.

The throwout lever 62-1 is provided with a lip D which is adapted to engage the edge of the control lever 1-160 to limit the ex-- tent to which the springs 1-80 and I-136 can swing the lever 62-1 on its pivot 14-1. The control lever 1-160 has a limited adaptability for swinging on account of projections a, b, engaging the side of the ribbon cup.

A detent arm 63-1 which is pivoted on the stud 1-215, is connected by a spring 180-1 to the stud 1-217 which draws the free end of said detent arm toward the control lever I-160. The detent arm has a bent lug on which is loosely mounted a detent roller 1-31 which is arranged so that it bears on a point C of the control lever I-160. Due to the action of the spring ISO-1, the. loosely mounted roller 1-31 will hold the control lever either in the 2 position shown in Fig. 2 or that shown in Fig. 6. The detent arm has a loop F which may be spread or closed, more or less, for

purposes of adjustment of the effective length of said detent arm.

The detent arm is not shown in connection with the right hand ribbon cup mechanism as the use of one of these detent arms suffices for both controlling levers in View of the fact that the levers are coupled by the rod or wire 1-190.

1 also find it advantageous to provide a bend in the wire 1-190 so that its ell'ective length may be shortened or lengthened to bring about the proper coordination of the levers 1-160.

The ribbon s )ools or reels 1-168 have suitable means or connection of the ribbon to the drum or central'portion thereof.

The automatic reversal of feed is accomlished by providing the ribbon R with two buttons, obstructions, or other means 1-73 connected to the ribbon at points suitably distant from the ends of the ribbon so that when the ribbon is about completely unwound from the idle ribbon reel, the obstruction or device 1-73 will engage the fork, or prong of the throwout lever 62-I of the mechanlsm of the ribbon cup whose spool has been unwound as shown in Fig. 6.

Assuming that the ri ht hand ribbon mechanism has been win in up the ribbon in the ribbon cup 1-250, t e control lever I-160 of the left hand ribbon cup mechanism would then be in the position shown in Fig. 6. Finally, the obstruction 1-73 enga es the fork of the throwout lever 62- The first result of this en agement is the swinging of the throwout fever 62-1 on its plvot 141 to position the pawls 1-172-L and 1-171- as shown in Fig. 6, which brings the end of the feed awl 1-172-L in engagement with the si e of the ribbon cup, which serves as an abutment, thus with the very slightest added tension on the ribbon R, the parts in the left hand on are swung to preliminary position. Slight further travel of the ribbon causes the throwout lever 62-1 to exert a direct ull on the control lever 1-160 of the left and cup because further swinging of the throwout lever 62-1 is prevented. The result is that the slight added tension shifts the control lever 1-160 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the wire or rod 1-190 forms a direct positive connection between the control levers 1-160 and 1-159, the control lever 1-159 of the right hand cup is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1

which is the inoperative position because the throwout lever 162-1 of the right hand cup mechanism then moves as a unit with the control lever I-159 and hence the pin 1-121 shifts the pawls of the right hand cup to the inoperative position shown.

Immediately the above action takes place, the feed and check pawls of the left hand ribbon cu mechanism are rendered operative as t e position of the control lever 1-160 permits the teeth of said pawls to engage the ratchet wheel as shown in Fig. 2. The shaft 103-1 being actuated by the continued use of the machine, the bell crank lever 1-158 is rocked and the ribbon is wound on the spool or reel of the left hand mechanism.

When the ribbon has become nearly unwound from the right hand ribbon spool,

a clip or obstruction similar to the clip or.

obstruction I-73 engages the throwout lever 162-1 of the right hand cup mechanism and swings the control levers 1-160, 1-159 toward the left which renders ineffective the pawls of the left hand cup mechanism and renders effective the -pawls of the right hand mechanism. This results in reversal of travel of the ribbon.

The forks or slots X in the throwout levers 62-1 and 162-1 serve as a guide to strai hten out the ribbon should it become tang ed. 5

I claim:

1. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotatin device for turning a ribbon spool or ree of means for turning said rotatin device with a step-by-step movement, a s iftably mounted controlling member, and an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to shift in relation to, said controlling member, said throwout member being adapted for operation b means carried by-the ribbon to shift it an being cooperatively related to the aforesaid means for turning the rotating device so that when the aforesaid throwout member is moved by the action of the means carried by the ribbon, it will shift the means for turning the rotating device, and a ribbon cup adapted to be engaged by the means for turning the rotating device when the latter is thus shifted by the throw out member, said ribbon cup serving as a fulcrum, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to effect cooperation of the turning means aforesaid with the said rotating device.

2. In a ribbon winding and reversing machanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, of means for turning said rotating device with a step-by-stcp movement, a shiftably mounted controlling member, and an automatic throwout member pivotally connected to, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to swing in relation to, said controlling mem her, said throwout member being adapted for operation by means carried by the ribbon to shift it and being cooperatively related to the aforesaid means for turning the rotating device so that when the aforesaid throwout member is moved by the action of the means carried by the ribbon, it will shift the means for turning the rotating device, and a ribbon cup adapted to be engaged by the means for turning the rotating device when the latter is thus shifted by the throwout member, said ribbon cup serving as a fulcrum, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to effect cooperation of the turning means aforesaid with the said rotating device.

3. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool orreel, said device being provided with ratchet teeth, of a shiftably mounted pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a shiftably mounted controlling member, and an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to shift the throwout member to be shifted to effectv engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth. A

4. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotat ing device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, said device being provided with ratchet teeth, of a shiftably mounted feed pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a check pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a shiftably mounted controlling member, and an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted'to move bodily with, or to shiftin relation to, said controlling member, said throwout member being adapted for operation by means carried by the ribbon to shift in conjunction with thecontrolling member to cause the aforesaid pawls to engage with, or to disengage from, said ratchet teeth, and a ribbon cup adapted to be engaged by both of the aforesaid pawls when said pawls are shifted by the said throwout member, said ribbon cup serving as a fulcrum for both of said pawls when they are engaged by it, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to effect engagement of both pawls with the ratchet teeth.

5. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, said device being provided with ratchet teeth, of a pivoted shiftably mounted feed pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a shiftably mounted controlling member, an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to shift in relation to, said controlling member, said throwout member being adapted for operation by means carried by the ribbon to shift it and being cooperatively related to the aforesaid feed pawl so that when said throwout member is moved by the action of the means carried by the ribbon, it will swing said'feed pawl, and an abutment adapted to be engaged by the feed pawl when thelatter is thus swung by the throwout member, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to. effect engagement of the feed, pawl with the ratchet teeth.

6. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, said device being provided with ratchet teeth, of a pivoted shiftably mounted feed pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a check pawl adaptedto engage said ratchet teeth, a shiftably mounted controlling member, an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to shift in relation to, said controlling member, said throwout member being adapted foroperation'by means carried by the ribbon to shift it and being cooperatively related to the aforesaid feed pawl and check pawl so that when said throwout member is moved by the action of the means carried by the ribbon, it will swing the said feed pawl and move the said check pawl, and an abutment adapted to be engaged by the feed pawl when the latter is thus swung by the throwout member, whereby the action of the ribbon. will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to effect engagement of the feed pawl and check pawl with the ratchet teeth.

7. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, said device being provided with ratchet teeth, of a pivoted shiftably mounted feed pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, a shiftably mounted controlling member, an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and adapted to move bodily with, or to shift in relation to, said controlling member, said throwout member being adapted for operation by means carried by the ribbon to shift it and being cooperatively related to the aforesaid feed pawl so that when said throwout member ismoved by theaction of the means carried by'the ribbon, it will swing said feed pawl, and an abutment adapted to arrest the throwout member and to serve as a fulcrum, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be'shifted to effect engagement of the feed pawl with the ratchet teeth.

8. In a ribbon winding and reversing mechanism, the'combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, of means for turning said rotating device with ustep-by-step movement, a shiftably mounted controlling member, and an automatic throwout member movably mounted on, and carried by, said controlling member and arranged to move in one direction only in relation to said controlling member and to be arrested to prevent movement in the oppo- 1 out member movably mounted on, and carried b said controlling member and arrange to move in one direction only in relation to said controlling member and to be arrested to prevent movement in the opposite direction except to move as a unit with said controlling member, and an abutment, said throwout member being ada ted f0: operation by means carried by the rlbbon for controlling the operation of the means for turning the rotating device and to be arrested after a predetermined shifting, said abutment serving as a fulcrum for said throwout member, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to render effective the means for turning said rotating device.

10. In a ribbon windingand reversing mechanism, the combination with a rotating device for turning a ribbon spool or reel, said device bein provided with ratchet teeth, of a rockab y mounted member, a pivoted feed pawl carried by said rockably mounted member and being ada ted to engage said ratchet teeth, a pivote shiftable, controlling member, a detent for holding said controlling member where set, an automatic throwout member pivoted to the controlling member and carried by it, means being provided to permit said throwout member to swing in one direction but to be arrested to prevent it from swinging beyond a given point in the opposite direction in relation to said controlling member. said throwout member being adapted to move bodily with said controlling member, a piv ote'd check pawl adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, an abutment, and means carried by the throwout member to engage the feed pawl and check pawl, said throwout member being adapted for operation by means carried by the ribbon to cause it to shift to effect engagement of the feed pawl with the abutment, said abutment serving as a fulcrum, whereby the action of the ribbon will then cause the controlling member and the throwout member to be shifted to permit the feed pawl and check pawl to engage the ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK W. BERNAU. 

